A lack of free memory on Windows or Mac can lead to crashes, freezing, and delays.
Fortunately, clearing your computers RAM can often fix these issues and get things running smoothly again.
Below are some easy ways to get this done without having to replace any hardware.
gerenme / iStock / Getty Images Plus
By fully shutting down your system, you remove power from the RAM, which clears it out.
When you turn your box back on, you’ll be working with a clean slate.
see to it that your operating system and all of the apps you use are fully updated.
In this case, there are plenty ofweb browsers to pick from.
Clear your web net surf tool cache.
This is another option that’s useful for memory-related problems when using a net web surfer.
confirm to try each of these tips before you take additional actions like upgrading your physical RAM.
You may want to consider an alternative app in the future if the problem persists.
Remove unnecessary startup programs.
When Windows first starts up, several apps automatically begin to run in the background.
Clean up your background apps.
In Windows, apps are allowed to run in the background by default.
Do this in Windows 11 throughSettings>Apps>Installed apps.
Choose an app from the list and then select thethree dotsto edit its advanced parameters.
Go here in Windows 10:controls>Privacy>Background Apps.
Clear your page file on restart.
Windows uses something called a page file to store temporary data in a manner somewhat similar to RAM.
Unlike RAM, which is automatically cleared when your box powers down, the page file will stay full.
Enter1in theValue datafield, and clickOK.
This is related to the previous step, but slightly different.
In Windows, the terms page file and virtual memory are used interchangeably.
If clearing your page file, then adding additional space to virtual memory may help.
Windows employs a lot of minor visual effects that help improve the experience of using the operating system.
Tips For Clearing RAM on Your Mac
Macs can also suffer from RAM issues.
Check memory use in the Activity Monitor.
The Activity Monitor allows you to see how much RAM each app is using on your Mac.
If you identify any apps that are hogging all your RAM, you could try closing them.
Check memory usage in the Activity Monitor.
Try closing problem apps and replacing them with alternatives, if possible.
Clean up your desktop.
Try moving those files elsewhere, or at least consolidate things into a few folders.
Close excess Finder windows.
Each of these windows loads its contents into RAM, so consider consolidating them into tabs.
ClickFinder, right-clickPreferences, and tick offOpen folders in tabs instead of new windows.
To consolidate your Finder windows into one, clickWindow>Merge All Windows.
Free up disk space for virtual memory.
To fix this problem, consider deleting files and apps you no longer use.
What If You’re Still Having Memory Problems?
Similarly, RAM issues can be triggered by malware and other problems.
Here are some other ways to deal with a lack of RAM:
Scan your gear for malware.
A good antivirus program can take care of this problem.
Use a RAM cleaner app.
If you’re out of options, then it’s worth a try.
When all else fails, simply adding more RAM should do the trick.
Installing RAM in a Windows PC is usually pretty easy, whilelaptops are often more difficult to work with.
What Does RAM Do, and Why Clear It?
Every computer has a punch in of memory called RAM that’s designed for short-term data storage.
When you shut your machine down, the RAM is completely cleared out.
Apps will then slow down, you’ll have trouble switching between them, and some may even crash.
By clearing your RAM, you free up space for your apps to work more efficiently.
